Definition

1. Noun:

   • Rubber: A natural elastic material obtained from the latex sap of certain tropical trees, primarily the Hevea brasiliensis, used to make a wide variety of products.
   • Rubber tree: The tree itself that produces this latex.

2. Adjective:

   • Elastic / Flexible: Describes something that is stretchable, resilient, or not rigid. Figuratively, it describes rules, schedules, or plans that are not fixed and can be adjusted.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Việt Nam có nhiều đồn điền cao su. (Vietnam has many rubber plantations.)
  • Xe đạp của tôi cần lốp cao su mới. (My bicycle needs new rubber tyres.)

• Adjective:

  • Giờ làm việc ở đây khá cao su. (The working hours here are quite flexible.)
  • Đừng có nội quy cao su như vậy! (Don't have such elastic rules!)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used metaphorically to criticize a lack of discipline or strict adherence to schedules or regulations.
  • Lịch học cao su quá, lúc nào cũng thay đổi. (The class schedule is too elastic; it's always changing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cao su non (n): Foam rubber, a soft, spongy material.

  • Đệm làm bằng cao su non rất êm. (A mattress made from foam rubber is very soft.)

• Cao su tổng hợp (n): Synthetic rubber.

  • Lốp xe thường được làm từ cao su tổng hợp. (Car tyres are often made from synthetic rubber.)

Synonyms

• Rubber: The primary material.
• Elastic: For the adjective meaning stretchy or flexible.
• Flexible: For the figurative meaning of adaptable.

Related Idioms

• Giờ cao su: "Rubber time" – a common idiom referring to a flexible, often delayed, sense of time where events do not start punctually.
  • Buổi họp bắt đầu theo giờ cao su. (The meeting started on "rubber time" [i.e., it was late].)

noun

1. Rubber
   • đồn điền cao su
     a rubber plantation
   • lốp cao su
     rubber tyres

adj

1. Elastic
   • thì giờ cao su
     elastic time
   • nội quy cao su
     elastic rules